Iran Press/ Middle East: Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who led the government from 1996 to 1999 and again between 2009 and 2021, returns to power after his Likud party, far-right religious Zionist factions, and ultra-Orthodox parties secured 64 of parliament’s 120 seats.
Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism political alliance, and Itmar Ben Gvir, leader of Israel’s Jewish Power party, will take up prominent positions in the incoming government.
Smotrich, a self-declared homophobe and settler activist, has been named finance minister and will also be placed within Israel’s War ministry, with oversight of settlements inside the illegally occupied West Bank.
The post gives Smotrich authority over building permits in settlements, demolitions of Palestinian homes, and land issues. He will also oversee two military units in charge of running civilian and security affairs in the occupied West Bank.
Ben Gvir, who was previously convicted in Israel of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization, will be named national security minister, with oversight of police and the force that controls security at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Meanwhile, Avi Maoz, head of the Noam party, was appointed deputy minister in charge of “Jewish identity,” with control over parts of Israel’s national education system.
Maoz objects to allowing women to serve in the military and calls for the chief rabbinate to serve as the “fourth branch of government.”
Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas ultra-Orthodox party, has also been promised the interior and health portfolios - despite Israel’s attorney general stating Deri cannot serve in the cabinet due to past convictions for tax offenses.
Among the reforms planned by the incoming government is giving parliamentarians the right to overrule Supreme Court decisions, as well legal reforms that could end Netanyahu’s ongoing trial on charges of corruption - which he denies.
It was not made immediately clear when the new government would be sworn in, though Netanyahu told Israeli President Herzog he intended to do it “as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, Russian President, is the first president who congratulated prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on forming a government in a call on Thursday.
The two discussed a number of issues, including the war in Ukraine.
Putin-Netanyahu talks happened when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited US President Joe Biden in the White House.
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